Feral and free-roaming cats kill billions of birds and small mammals annually in countries like the US and Australia. Balancing cat welfare with wildlife conservation requires evidence-based, humane approaches.
The welfare dimensions of this issue are complex: individual feral cats often live difficult, short lives with high rates of injury, disease, and death, while their predation causes suffering and death in wildlife populations. Humane solutions require integrating cat welfare with conservation goals. Evidence supports keeping pet cats indoors, managed TNR programs, and targeted removal in critical wildlife habitats.